FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                 Contact: Sara Feinstein at 215/561-6900 Ext. 119

                       sfeinstein@maccabiusa.com

NEW PRESIDENT AND OFFICERS TO LEAD MACCABI USA/SPORTS FOR ISRAEL INTO THE NEW DECADE

January 8, 2010, Philadelphia, PA - Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel has elected a new President and slate of officers who will lead the organization into the new decade while focusing on creating a greater awareness and visibility of the organization's life-changing programs and build greater financial stability. 

Ron Carner, of Manhattan and Bridgehampton, NY will serve as the President for the organization. In his 25-year career as a volunteer for Maccabi USA, Carner has put in numerous hours, days and weeks into his many leadership roles at six Pan American Maccabi Games and six Maccabiah Games in Israel.  Most recently, at the 18^th Maccabiah in July 2009 in Israel, he was the General Chairman who led the largest sports delegation that has ever traveled from the USA.  Carner is a graduate of Brandeis University and Loyola School of Law.  He is a Partner at Sarisohn, Sarisohn, Carner, Lebrow, Braun & Castrovinci.

Elections took place at the Maccabi USA Annual Meeting in New York City on December 6, 2009.  Tonia Wortman, President for the past eight years, said of the new President, "Ron Carner is a dynamic and talented man who has been a driving force in the leadership of Maccabi USA for the past 25 years.  His commitment to our Mission and his passion for Jewish Youth and Israel have earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues, here in the USA and abroad, and the gratitude of the athletes whose lives have been changed by their Maccabi experiences.  I have every confidence that our new President will lead Maccabi USA to even greater heights of achievement and accomplishment."

Joining Carner as members of the new leadership team are a slate of new officers:

Jordan Weinstein, Worcester, MA, will serve as First Vice-President for the organization. He has been involved with Maccabi USA since 1985 as a member of the bronze medal winning USA Rugby Team at the 12^th World Maccabiah Games in Israel.  Weinstein stayed involved in the organization from that time, first as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the USA Maccabiah Rugby Team, moving into positions of increased responsibility and leadership, and has been an officer of the organization since 1993.  Weinstein served as the General Chairman of the USA Maccabiah Organizing Committee from 1997 - 2005 and was the Head of the USA Delegation at both the 16^th and 17^th World Maccabiah Games in Israel.  He is a managing partner at Weinstein & Weinstein, P.C. in Worcester, MA.

Seth Baron, of Kennesaw, GA, will serve a second term as a Vice-President for the organization.   He is an alumnus of five Maccabiah Games and three Pan American Maccabi Games. After first competing for the USA at the 12^th Maccabiah Games in Israel in July 1985, Baron also coached and/or chaired the Maccabi USA Swimming Team at four additional Maccabiah Games and two Pan American Maccabi Games.  Baron works as the Southern States Area Director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Donna Orender, of Jacksonville, FL, will serve as a Vice-President for the organization.  She has been involved with Maccabi USA since 1985 as a member of the USA Open Women's Basketball Team at the 12^th Maccabiah Games, then in 1992 she was elected to the Board of Directors.  Since 2005, Orender has been the President of the Women's National Basketball Association where she oversees all business and league operations.  Prior to that position she was with the PGA Tour for 17 years, most recently serving in the Office of the Commissioner as one of three senior executives responsible for the overall business of the Tour.

Leland Faust, of San Francisco, CA, will serve as a Vice-President for the organization.  He has been involved with Maccabi USA since 1965 when he participated in the 7^th Maccabiah Games as a member of the USA Open Water Polo Team and also was a member of the USA Water Polo Team at the 9^th Maccabiah in 1973 and the 16^th Maccabiah in 2001 - all gold medal winning Teams.  Faust continued his involvement with Maccabi USA as a volunteer involved with organizing the USA Water Polo Teams for the last three Maccabiah Games as well as Pan American Maccabi Games and as an athlete, competing in the Masters Triathlon at the 17^th World Maccabiah Games in 2005.  He joined the Board of Directors in 2003 as a member of the Executive Committee.  Faust is a Founder and President of CSI Capital in San Francisco, CA. 

Jodi Reff, of Rockville, MD, will serve as a Vice-President for the organization.  She first became involved with Maccabi USA as a member of the medical team at the 15^th  World  Maccabiah Games in 1997 and continued as a trainer on the medical team at the 16^th and 17^th World Maccabiah Games in 2001 and 2005.  Reff became a member of the Board of Directors in 2001 and most recently served as the co-chair of the USA Team Pre-Camp Cultural and Educational program at the 18^th World Maccabiah Games in 2009.  She is the owner of Reff Physical Therapy in Rockville, MD. 

Walter Klores, of New York, NY, will serve as Secretary for the organization.  A member of the Board of Directors since 1998, he first got involved with the organization as an athlete in 1995 when he competed on the Masters Track & Field Team at the 8^th Pan American Maccabi Games in Argentina.  Additionally, Klores was a member of the USA 18^th Maccabiah Organizing Committee which brought over 900 athletes to Israel in July, 2009 to compete in the 18^th Maccabiah Games, the third largest international sporting event. He is the President of Lifespan Communications, Inc.

Jeffrey Simon, of Northbrook, IL, will serve as Treasurer for the organization.  He has been involved with Maccabi USA since 1989, first as a member of the USA Open Men's Rugby Team at the 13^th Maccabiah World Games and also competed in Rugby at the 14^th World Games in 1993 and then as a coach at the 15^th World Maccabiah Games where the USA won its first gold medal in the sport.  Simon also coached the USA Men's Rugby Team at the 8^th Pan American Maccabi Games in 1995.  He has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2002 and previously served as Associate Treasurer for Maccabi USA.  Simon is a VP-Financial Consultant at RBC Dain Rauscher in Chicago, IL. 

Jeff Bukantz, of Montville, NJ, will serve as Associate Treasurer for the organization.  Bukantz is a second generation alumnus and has competed in four World Maccabiah Games as an Open Fencer,  winning two individual gold and one bronze medals as well as two gold, four silver and two bronze Team medals. He also served as a Fencing Referee at the 1984 and1996 Olympic Games and as Team Captain for the 2004 and 2008 United States Olympic Fencing Teams. Bukantz has stayed involved with Maccabi USA as a member of the Board of Directors since 1994 and the Executive Committee.  He is the President of Flex Energy Management in Roseland, NJ.

Additionally, over 40 individuals were elected as members of the Board of Directors.

About the organization:

Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs.  The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games and Maccabi competitions in Pan America, Australia and Europe.  As an official Maccabi representative in the United States, Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors enhanced by cultural and educational opportunities at home, in Israel and throughout the Diaspora. 

Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel endeavors, through sports, to perpetuate and preserve the American Jewish Community by encouraging Jewish pride, strengthening Jewish bonds and by creating a heightened awareness of Israel and Jewish Identity.  Our volunteer organization seeks to enrich the lives of Jewish youth in the United States, Israel and the Diaspora through athletic, cultural and educational programs.

We develop, promote and support international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities.  We strive to provide Jewish athletes the world over, the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings.  We support programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport.

###